Thank you David. Having grown up just south of Salisbury, with Stonehenge and the Plain a bedrock of our experience I loved reading this. I feel angry too that in this modern era, we are deprived the same experience and access by private landowners. These ancient routes should be public rights of way: when I am Empress of the World, which can only be a matter of days away, I will make it so. As per my school moto (SWGS Salisbury) “ONWARDS!”
David, when you "re-enact the sacred journey itself, from Durrington to Stonehenge via the river", presumably by canoe, how about taking a GoPro & posting the video ? That would be amazing !
I loved reading this and imagining myself there. I've visited Stonehenge twice, once in 1999 before the highway was rerouted and the current visitor's center built, and once in 2017, when all that was in place. Both times the site moved me, even with the tourist crowds. It's hard to explain it to someone who hasn't visited.
What I haven't done, though, is explored the landscape. I'm trying to picture how it all works/worked together, but since I was a tourist myself when I visited, I never really got the feel of the whole landscape. Your post helps to give me that. It is indeed a shame that someone can make a river (a river!) private.
Get yourself a 1:25K map and follow the footpaths along and from the river over Normanton Down, and back over Stonehenge Bottom to King’s Barrow ridge and Woodhenge - that will give you a great sense of the landscape
I really enjoyed reading this and seeing your brilliant photographs alongside the description of the landscape. I'm very fortunate to live where I have these amazing sites almost on my doorstep.
This is a brilliantly evocative article - thank you! While it’s easy to imagine the procession making its way toward the stones, I wonder if anyone has attempted to work out what happened inside the Stonehenge circle in terms of ritual practices? There would have been a huge number of people witnessing the rituals. Where did they stand? Where did the priest or priestess go? Was there a holy space (as in ancient Egypt) accessible only to priests? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I think it likely most people attending the rituals would have been kept outside the henge itself. Read Timothy Darvill’s paper on how the stones functioned as a giant calendar, following the Egyptian model, to get a better sense of what rituals may have been like.
Thanks Sam. It’s really only a ‘work in progress’. Still a bit more research to do on this, and a film over the trip via canoe to shoot. Watch this space!
That was a wonderful piece, so thank you. I followed the journey on OS mapping and Google maps, and now I want get out there an experience the area from a new perspective. I have been to Wood Henge and DW previously, but the area south of 303 is now fascinating. I must get back.
Thank you so much for the missing Link article. I live fairly nearby and was stunned by the views of Durrington walls and the journey the people made to Stonehenge. I have walked over the public landscape, but these photos open up a whole new world in my imagination. Must get back there soon. Best of luck with your river trip!
It’s truly amazing how over-layered the landscape around Amesbury is by big roads and conurbation. And how inaccessible the lovely bits further south are!
Really enjoyed reading about the wider landscape and the ceremonial approaches to Stonehenge. Looking forward to finding out more when you travel along the river
Thank you David. Having grown up just south of Salisbury, with Stonehenge and the Plain a bedrock of our experience I loved reading this. I feel angry too that in this modern era, we are deprived the same experience and access by private landowners. These ancient routes should be public rights of way: when I am Empress of the World, which can only be a matter of days away, I will make it so. As per my school moto (SWGS Salisbury) “ONWARDS!”
I might see a right to roam in my lifetime but it’s definitely something worth campaigning for
David, when you "re-enact the sacred journey itself, from Durrington to Stonehenge via the river", presumably by canoe, how about taking a GoPro & posting the video ? That would be amazing !
That’s the plan!
I loved reading this and imagining myself there. I've visited Stonehenge twice, once in 1999 before the highway was rerouted and the current visitor's center built, and once in 2017, when all that was in place. Both times the site moved me, even with the tourist crowds. It's hard to explain it to someone who hasn't visited.
What I haven't done, though, is explored the landscape. I'm trying to picture how it all works/worked together, but since I was a tourist myself when I visited, I never really got the feel of the whole landscape. Your post helps to give me that. It is indeed a shame that someone can make a river (a river!) private.
Get yourself a 1:25K map and follow the footpaths along and from the river over Normanton Down, and back over Stonehenge Bottom to King’s Barrow ridge and Woodhenge - that will give you a great sense of the landscape
Thank you, I will!
I really enjoyed reading this and seeing your brilliant photographs alongside the description of the landscape. I'm very fortunate to live where I have these amazing sites almost on my doorstep.
Even living next to them it’s not always easy to see their settings as it would most likely have been construed back in the era of Stonehenge
Absolutely right and that's why I particularly appreciate your photographs.
This is a brilliantly evocative article - thank you! While it’s easy to imagine the procession making its way toward the stones, I wonder if anyone has attempted to work out what happened inside the Stonehenge circle in terms of ritual practices? There would have been a huge number of people witnessing the rituals. Where did they stand? Where did the priest or priestess go? Was there a holy space (as in ancient Egypt) accessible only to priests? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I do indeed have a few ideas. Watch this space!
I think it likely most people attending the rituals would have been kept outside the henge itself. Read Timothy Darvill’s paper on how the stones functioned as a giant calendar, following the Egyptian model, to get a better sense of what rituals may have been like.
Thank you for taking us on this pilgrimage with you
Thanks Sam. It’s really only a ‘work in progress’. Still a bit more research to do on this, and a film over the trip via canoe to shoot. Watch this space!
That was a wonderful piece, so thank you. I followed the journey on OS mapping and Google maps, and now I want get out there an experience the area from a new perspective. I have been to Wood Henge and DW previously, but the area south of 303 is now fascinating. I must get back.
See you there
Thank you so much for the missing Link article. I live fairly nearby and was stunned by the views of Durrington walls and the journey the people made to Stonehenge. I have walked over the public landscape, but these photos open up a whole new world in my imagination. Must get back there soon. Best of luck with your river trip!
It’s truly amazing how over-layered the landscape around Amesbury is by big roads and conurbation. And how inaccessible the lovely bits further south are!
Thanks Caroline
Really enjoyed reading about the wider landscape and the ceremonial approaches to Stonehenge. Looking forward to finding out more when you travel along the river
I’m planning another trip soon